When I first saw this question, my instantaneous response was “Yes, of course!” Then I got thinking about it and couldn’t come up with a solid example.
I could mention going for walks in the fall and shuffling through fallen leaves, but that seems like a stretch. Or building snowmen and going sledding in the winter. The truth is, I want my characters to develop their own traditions.
Like the way Harmony, the main character in the Harmony Duprie Mysteries, always carries dog treats so she can give one to her landlords’ dog, Piper. Or the way she always pats some part of her car, Dolores – the roof, the hood- the trunk- before she gets in. Or how she counts the stairs going to her apartment on the third floor. But that may not be as much of a tradition as a symptom of her un-diagnosed ADD.
I tried harder in my urban fantasy/paranormal series, The Free Wolves, to create traditions as part of my world building. That was a necessity because part of the conflict in the series in tradition vs the modern world. To create a character who supports traditions while at the same time breaking those traditions frequently made for some great tension.
Here’s a quick snippet from Wolves’ Knight that highlights the conflict:
“In here, between us, I’d appreciate it if you call me Gavin. I’d get rid of the title if I could, but that’s not going to happen.”
“Pack tradition is hard to change.” Tasha used her free hand in a futile effort to return her hair to a resemblance of neatness.
“I didn’t realize how hard it would be.” Gavin frowned. “I thought that as our generation came into power, we’d be able to change all those things we talked about when we were younger. It never ceases to amaze me how many people our age are happier sticking with tradition because it’s easier.”
You can find out more about my books by checking out the other pages on this website.
So, the answer is no. I haven’t included family traditions. I leave it up to my characters to create their own.
Photos as Writing Prompts #IWSG
There’s a simple answer to this. No.
I’ve never written a story or a poem that was inspired by a story. On the other hand, I’ve got photos of real places I’ve been to that inspired a poem or bits of a story. The photo below inspired a poem about learning to breath again at 12,000 feet.
And then there’s the library that inspires many scenes in the Harmony Duprie mysteries.
A writer’s Beginnings #IWSG
In sixth grade, I won an award for an essay for a contest sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution. That was the beginning of my desire to be a writer. Through high school, I stuck to essays and short stories, then moved on to poetry in college. It was the time of singer-songwriters, and poetry filled the air. I was inspired by some of the greatest.
I had some small success with my poetry; getting published in literary magazines and poetry collections. There was a lot to learn about markets, formats, and basic ‘manners.’ Like including a self addressed, stamp envelope if you wanted your submission returned. (Anyone remember those days?)
But at some point the poetry dried up and I needed to find another way to express myself. That was about the same time I stumbled across NaNoWriMo. You’ve probably heard of it, where people attempt to write a book in a month. Or at least 50,000 words of one. Well, I gave it a try. And I didn’t ‘win.” But I got hooked.
I’m currently working on my eighth book for publication. (I have several that will never be published in their current form.) And all those years spent as a poet gave me the courage to go indie and do it on my own. Sure, I had to learn a whole new set of rules, but I’m not one to back down from a challenge. (To find out more about my books, check out the other pages of my website.)
Anyway, that was my journey. I’m willing to bet there are other similar stories in this hop. I’m about to find out!
Living The Dream #IWSG
December 4 question – Let’s play a game. Imagine. Role-play. How would you describe your future writer self, your life and what it looks and feels like if you were living the dream? Or if you are already there, what does it look and feel like? Tell the rest of us. What would you change or improve?
The awesome co-hosts for the December 4 posting of the IWSG are Tonja Drecker, Beverly Stowe McClure, Nicki Elson, Fundy Blue, and Tyrean Martinson!
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Funny how well this topic ties into Monday’s Blog hop.
So let’s pretend. I’ve changed one little thing and suddenly I’m a best selling author. I no longer have to work my day job and I have all the time in the world to write. Hey, this is a dream, right?
I’m living in a mountain cabin that has a creek and a small lake nearby. I love to write sitting by the flowing water, and the lake is big enough for my husband to fish in. The cabin has enough room that we aren’t cramped when my daughter and her family come to visit. Of course, it magically has internet despite being in the middle of nothing. And speaking of magic, the house would clean itself.
Because I have all the time in the world to write, I’ve started my series about the gritty female PI in Pittsburgh. It’s a lot edgier than the Harmony Duprie Mysteries, but my audience loves her. too. And I’m even fitting in more of the Free Wolves books.
Oh, and I get to travel to writers’ conferences and book signings more often. That way I can still improve my craft, meet existing fans, and hopefully make new ones.
That sounds pretty darn good to me! What am I missing? I’ll take suggestions in the comments!
Strange things in research #IWSG
about googling my name led me to a page about about bridge jumping. (Bridge Day in West Virginia). And the report of two political opponents who had a gun fight after a meeting. Looking up information on jet boats in Oregon led me to the web page of a lodge in Oregon you can only get to by boat. To Read or Not to Read #IWSG
It’s been said that the benefits of becoming a writer who does not read is that all your ideas are new and original. Everything you do is an extension of yourself, instead of a mixture of you and another author. On the other hand, how can you expect other people to want your writing, if you don’t enjoy reading? What are your thoughts?
Finding a Place to Write #IWSG
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Writing Kryptonite #OpenBook Blog Hop
August 5, 2019
What is your writing Kryptonite?
What’s the one thing that could make me give up writing?
I almost did, a few years back, but not on purpose. And you may have heard the first part of this before, but keep reading.
That was when poetry was my focus in writing. For many years, the words came easily. I have notebooks and binders filled with my poems. But somewhere along the way, I lost the words. I was doing good if I wrote two poems in an entire year. It hurt. It hurt bad enough that I considered giving up writing altogether.
But a story floated around in my head and wouldn’t go away. It wouldn’t work as a poem. So, I wrote it as a novel. At least, I tried. And words came back to me.
Now, I’m happily working on the fifth book in the Harmony Duprie series. But I’ve been tempted to give up. Why?
I’ve been hit by my Kryptonite-lack of sales. Why write when no one is reading? A book isn’t complete until someone reads it. Plus, it costs money to get a book ready for publication. If I can’t recoup those costs, it’s like throwing money away.
Interior artwork from Superman: Secret Origin vol. 1, 1 (November 2009 DC Comics)
Art by Gary Frank
But then I remember the people who encourage me and like my stories. The ones that buy them even if they don’t write reviews. So, I keep trying. That’s the advice you hear in the writers’ group-keep writing! Maybe one of these days I’ll write a best seller. (I also hear a lot of writers are having a hard time, not just me. Go buy a book even if it isn’t mine!)
So, I’ve been weakened by one form of Kryptonite but not knocked out. I’m still writing. (I should break 26000 words tonight!) Still, I know there are other forms of the nasty stuff. I hope I don’t run into them.
Because I have an idea for another series. I’ve written one draft of the book, but the time frame and location are all wrong. How would you like a story about a gritty female PI with a darker edge? She’d be no Harmony Duprie.
But while I think about it, I’m heading over to see what the other authors in the hop believe their Kryptonite is. You can too, by following the links below.
August 5, 2019
What is your writing Kryptonite?
Rules:1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.
Pieces of Me #IWSG
Welcome to the Insecure Writer’s Support group blog hop for July.
July 3 question: What personal traits have you written into your character(s)?
I think every one of my major characters has a small piece of me written into their personality. But the one that has the most of me is Harmony Duprie, the main character in my female sleuth series. At least, that was true in the first book. She has grown and evolved in each book, and has developed her own unique personality. In fact, I’ve changed the series name to recognize the fact. What were once called the Oak Grove Mysteries are now the Harmony Duprie Mysteries.
One easy to see similarity between Harmony and myself is our profession. She’s en ex-librarian turned internet researcher. I planned on being a librarian when I was growing up, and took some college classes in the field. I even worked as a part-time librarian in a small town for a year or so.
Of course, as a librarian, Harmony has a love of reading. I’ve given her tastes similar to mine. That erotic novel about the billionaire dinosaur-shifter president? She won’t touch it with a ten-foot pole. But she’s more than willing to tackle the driest historical accounts to find the interesting tidbits of information.
Another aspect of my personality that Harmony shares is her need for having time alone. Although she enjoys her friends, there are times that she just wants to be by herself. Her little apartment serves as her sanctuary. I have my writing cave.
But I keep discovering aspects of her that have no basis in my likes and dislikes. She likes to start her morning with a cup of coffee—not unusual. (But I don’t like coffee at all and don’t drink it!) here’s a quick snipptet from the first book, The Marquesa’s Necklace, that features her habit:
I must have set my alarm out of force of habit, because I woke up earlier than I needed to. I was sitting on the second-to-bottom step drinking my coffee, reading the paper, and patting Piper when Elijah arrived. He put his coffee down, pulled a doggie treat out of his pocket, and tossed it to Piper. Piper didn’t bark or growl or anything. He just wagged his tail, gobbled up the goodie, and allowed Elijah to pat him.
“What’s up with that?” I asked, astonished. “Piper doesn’t let strangers touch him, not ever!”
Elijah picked up his coffee and sat down beside me. “Piper and I reached an agreement,” he said, picking up the front section of the paper. I was done with it, and had moved on to the sports section. “I bring him dog cookies, and he lets me help keep an eye on you. He figured it was a fair trade, from what I can tell.”
I snorted into my coffee cup. “Sounds to me like you got the raw end of the deal.”
“Depends on your point of view, I guess.” He avoided my eyes and I didn’t press the issue. I hadn’t gotten enough sleep to worry about what he meant.
We sat in companionable silence, sipping our coffees and enjoying the crisp morning air. It wouldn’t be much longer that I could do this. Once winter arrived, I’d be banished back to my apartment. At least until spring. Winters tend to be long here.
Of course I didn’t tell him, but I enjoyed having Elijah share the moment with me. He would be gone all too soon. I’d lost my ghost in the library.
If you want to find out more about Harmony, check out her stories HERE.
Don’t forget to check out how other IWSG authors share their personal traits with their characters.
Favorite Genre #IWSG
IWSG Day Question: Of all the genres you read and write, which is your favorite to write in and why?
Here’s the thing. I’ll read just about anything, from sci-fi to mysteries to biographies. As long as it’s well-written, I’m game. I’m not crazy about erotica, but if it’s got a decent plot, I can read it.
Obviously, I don’t write in every genre I read. I only write in two-urban fantasy/paranormal and mysteries. (I’ve tried writing in a third, romance, and wasn’t much good at it!)
I freely admit that the mysteries are better sellers than the fantasies. And I love my main character, Harmony Duprie. But the genre I prefer? The urban fantasy.
There’s so much freedom with what I can do with my characters. Sure, I’ve set guidelines for how my world works, but I can also break the rules. And, I do! Or, at least I twist the rules to match what the plot demands.
I’ve written three books so far in the Free Wolves series. At this point, I’m not sure when I’ll add another one. Sure, ideas for more are floating around in my head, demanding my attention, but I’m holding off for now. (But don’t worry, I don’t write cliffhanger endings, so you can read the books and not feel cheated.)
If you are interested in the books, you can grab more information HERE.
And you might want to check out some of the other insecure writers below.
